FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: SEPTEMBER 18, 2004
CONTACT: GREG MURPHY, SID (303) 273-3095

MINES FOOTBALL WINS AT NW OKLAHOMA STATE, 27-13
CSM Moves to 4-0 For First Time Since 1963

ALVA, Okla. - The Colorado School of Mines football team improved to 4-0 for the first time since the 1963 season with a 27-13 victory at Northwestern Oklahoma State, the second ranked NAIA team, in nonconference action Saturday afternoon at Ranger Field.

Senior quarterback Chad Friehauf (Brush, Colo./Brush) once again led the attack as he completed 23-of-31 passes for 344 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran 14 times for 62 yards and two more scores and also extended his streak of consecutive passes without throwing an interception to 110 straight.

Friehauf opened the scoring at the 2:34 mark of the first quarter when he hooked up with senior wide receiver Jonny Chan (Aurora, Colo./Rangeview) from four yards out. The extra point was no good.

NWOSU (2-1) took a 7-6 lead six seconds into the second quarter when Jeff Cooper scampered 27 yards for a touchdown. However, Friehauf added touchdown runs of eight and 11 yards in the second stanza to give the Orediggers a 20-7 lead at halftime.

On the first drive of the second half, the Rangers marched 76 yards in seven plays and cut the lead to 20-13 when DeMarko Jones hit Nathan Soliz for a 23 yard touchdown strike.

However, CSM's defense stifled the Rangers for the rest of the game and stopped NWOSU on a fourth and seven from the Oredigger 23-yard line early in the fourth quarter to put the ball back in Friehauf's hands. He promptly marched the offense 80 yards in seven plays, capped with a 55 yard TD pass to junior wide receiver Justin Gallas (Westminster, Colo./Northglenn) with 7:24 left to put the game away.

Chan finished with seven catches for 149 yards and a score, while Gallas hauled in five balls for 94 yards and a touchdown.

Sophomore linebacker Danny Sprague (Wheat Ridge, Colo./Wheat Ridge) led the defense with nine tackles and a fumble recovery, while junior linebacker Jared Heath (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Highlands Ranch) and sophomore free safety Tim Miller (Littleton, Colo./Columbine) tied for team-high honors with nine tackles each, while Miller also forced a fumble. The CSM defense held the Rangers to 320 yards.

The Rangers were paced by Jones who ran 21 times for 66 yards and also threw for 59 yards and a touchdown (7-10). Brandon Harper led the defense with nine stops, including a sack.

CSM (4-0, 1-0 RMAC) returns to action next Saturday when it hosts Chadron State in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference game. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 pm at Brooks Field. The Orediggers will be going after their first 5-0 start since the 1939 when that squad posted a perfect 8-0 mark.

-- OREDIGGERS --